SCENERY OF THE LAGUNES 49 



thirty inches of rain fell ; and when we consider that the average 

 fall in the equatorial plains of the new world is estimated at 

 nine feet, we must cease to wonder at their rivers exhibiting a 

 rapid rise on a scale unknown to our smaller and less prodigally 

 nourished streams. 



Countless lagunes stretch along the course of the Maraiion 

 and his tributaries. Possibly they may owe their existence to 

 the waters remaining after the inundations have subsided ; 

 perhaps also, as Von Martins believes, to the numberless 

 streams which, gushing out of the earth, more or less distant 

 from the rivers, either extend as standing waters, or flow as 

 brooks into the larger rivers. Most of these lagimes commu- 

 nicate with the larger currents by channels, which, however, are 

 generally dried up before the next rainy season sets in. 



The magical beauty of tropical vegetation reveals itself in al 

 its glory to the traveller who steers his boat through th 

 solitudes of these aquatic mazes. Here the forest forms 

 canopy over his head ; there it opens, allowing the sunshine toj 

 disclose the secrets of the wilderness ; while on either side thei 

 eye penetrates through beautiful vistas into the depths of the 

 woods. Sometimes, on a higher spot of ground, a clump or 

 trees forms an island worthy of Eden. A chaos of bushropes 

 and creepers flings its garlands of gay flowers over the forest, 

 and fills the air with the sweetest odour. Numerous birds, 

 partly rivalling in beauty of colour the passi- 

 floras and bignonias of these hanging gardens, 

 animate the banks of the lagune, while gaudy 

 macaws perch on the loftiest trees ; and, as if 

 to remind one that death is not banished from 

 this scene of paradise, a dark-robed vulture 

 screeches through the woods, or an alligator 

 rests, like a black log of wood or a sombre 

 rock, on the tranquil waters. Well he knows 

 that food will not be wanting; for river tor- 

 toises and large fish are fond of retiring to 



- , Blue Macaw. 



these lagunes. 



In one of these shallow lakes Castelnau witnessed fish-catching 

 on a grand scale. On the previous evening a quantity of 

 branches of the Barbasco {Jacquinia armillaris), after having 

 been beaten with clubs and divided among the canoes that were 



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